Chapter 88: Parting with a Cup of Wine for the Eastern Journey (4)

"Smallpox!" Wang Shunchen cried out in alarm, and Zhao Long and Li Xin immediately took a few steps back, keeping a safe distance. Smallpox in the Northern Song Dynasty was indeed what we now call smallpox. In this era, from the imperial family to the common people, the infant mortality rate was as high as fifty percent, with smallpox being the primary culprit. Zhao Long and Li Xin had never had smallpox, so they naturally kept as far away as possible.

"Smallpox? It's chickenpox!" Wang Hou stepped forward to examine the child. He had had smallpox when he was young and was lucky to survive, leaving scars on his ears and temples. The pustules on the child's body did not look like smallpox. He looked up and asked the expert, "Yukun, what do you think?"

"It's not smallpox," Han Gang said. This body had never had smallpox, and he didn't know the difference between chickenpox and smallpox, but the professionals in the pharmacy didn't avoid the crowd when they drove them out, so it probably wasn't a deadly infectious disease.

Yan Suxin lowered her head to look at the child's face, which was covered with blisters. "It's chickenpox. The doctor has already prescribed medicine, but we don't have the money to buy it."

Han Gang searched his pocket and found only a few coins. He asked Wang Hou, "Chudao, do you have any money left...?"

Wang Hou took out some money and said, "Yukun, you truly have a compassionate heart."

Han Gang said solemnly, "If my savior, Daoist Sun, had been less compassionate, I would have been a pile of bones long ago."

"That's true. It's a good deed, after all." Wang Hou handed a string of coins to Han Gang, who put them in his own money bag and then gave them to Yan Suxin. He asked, "Is it enough?"

Seeing Han Gang's gentle and refined smile, Yan Suxin bit her lip to keep from crying. She bowed to thank him, but when she looked up, Han Gang had already walked away with his companions.

Wang Hou walked beside Han Gang, silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Yukun, you made a mistake just now. You shouldn't have helped her. Though your intentions were good, there are many people with prying eyes on the street, and it could damage your reputation."

Han Gang laughed heartily, not caring at all. "I had the intention, but not the thought. Now I have no intention, but the thought remains. Chudao, you are too focused on appearances!"

Wang Hou was taken aback, thought for a moment, and then laughed at himself. "I am indeed too focused on appearances. But you have been staying at Puxiu Temple for too long, and your words are becoming more and more Zen-like."

The abbot of the temple, Daoan, was talking to a few people. Seeing Han Gang and the others enter, he quickly stood up.

They were not qualified to attend Han Gang's farewell banquet and had been waiting for him at Puxiu Temple. Wang Wu, Wang Jiu, and Zhou Ning were there, and next to Zhou Ning stood a familiar-looking, thin, and dark young man.

Wang Wu and Wang Jiu, the two guards from the De Xian military arsenal, had been reassigned to work in the Chengji County government after the Chen Ju faction was purged. This was Han Gang's arrangement.

Chen Ju had a stranglehold on Chengji County, and all the clerks and officials were under his command. When he fell, dozens of clerks in the county government were implicated. Those who found new patrons quickly retained their positions, while those who were deeply involved and couldn't find a patron were dismissed. The vacant positions were divided among various factions, and Han Gang took the opportunity to place a few people, including Wang Wu and Wang Jiu, in these positions. The older Wang Jiu even became a team leader.

Han Gang used this to prove to the outside world: "Those who have followed me, I will not forget."

In the De Xian military arsenal case, Wang Jiu and Wang Wu firmly testified in each trial, helping Han Gang pin the blame on Huang Deyong. No matter what, the fatal wounds on Liu San's body were inflicted by them, and the forensic experts in Qin Prefecture and Chengji County couldn't distinguish between pre- and post-mortem injuries. With their testimonies, Wang Jiu and Wang Wu had no choice but to stick to their story.

However, this meant that Han Gang owed them a favor. Naturally, he helped clear their names and arranged for them to have lucrative positions in the Chengji County government, even though they were still clerks, they were long-term clerks, which was a world apart from the temporary positions Han Gang had served.

"Both of you are protected by Yukun. Work hard in the government, and when Yukun returns, if you are willing, you can follow him." Wang Hou lectured the two Wang clerks, who nodded obediently.

On the other side, Han Gang spoke to Zhou Ning, one of the civilian laborers who had accompanied him from Qin Prefecture to Gangu City.

Seeing Zhou Ning, Han Gang remembered the Gangu Convalescent Hospital he had established in Gangu City and the civilian laborers from Chengji County who worked there. The defense system of Gangu City had been completed, and the civilian laborers Han Gang had brought to Gangu City had been released along with those who had stayed to build the city.

However, the leader, Zhu Zhong, had been recruited into the military and became a surgeon, which was Han Gang's suggestion before he left. With this position, Zhu Zhong would likely soon find a wife.

As for Zhou Ning, because Han Gang saw that he could write and calculate, he arranged for him to become a household registrar, a position previously held by Liu Xian. Now that Liu Xian was dead, Zhou Ning rightfully took over the position, which was lucrative. In just a few days, Zhou Ning's attire had changed.

Zhou Ning first congratulated Han Gang and wished him a safe journey, then introduced the thin, dark young man next to him. "This is my cousin, also surnamed Zhou, named Feng."

Han Gang found the name familiar and asked Zhou Ning for more details. He learned that this cousin, Zhou Feng, was the one who had been replaced by Han Gang in the De Xian military arsenal and later met in the county government when Han Gang was sent to Gangu to transport military supplies. According to Chen Ju, Zhou Feng's father had hanged himself, leaving Zhou Feng as the only male in the family, thus exempting him from the harsh duties of a clerk.

"However, my cousin was suspected of being part of the Chen Ju faction because he was conveniently transferred from the military arsenal. He was recently implicated in a legal case and lost all his remaining property. Now he is looking for a way to make a living. I hope you can help him, sir." Zhou Ning pleaded with Han Gang.

The reserved Zhou Feng stepped forward and knelt before Han Gang. "I, Zhou Feng, thank you, Sir Han, for saving my life!"

He then bowed three times, each bow hitting the ground with great force. When he raised his head, his forehead was red.

Han Gang's expression changed slightly. Indeed, Zhou Feng could be considered saved by him. If Han Gang hadn't appeared, and Liu Xian hadn't taken over the position, Zhou Feng would have been burned to death in the fire and blamed for the crime, losing both his life and his property. Chen Ju's plan was no longer a secret, and Zhou Feng, as a party involved, knew the details.

Han Gang raised his hand to signal Zhou Feng to stand. "We have both suffered as clerks, so I can understand your plight. It's no trouble to help you. Wang Jiu..."

Wang Jiu understood and stepped forward, bowing. "Please give your instructions, sir."

"See if there are any vacancies in the county government and give Zhou Feng a position."

"Rest assured, sir, I understand!" Wang Jiu bowed in agreement.

Zhou Feng bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Sir Han! Thank you, Sir Han!"

"Stand up!" Han Gang sat upright, his eyes sharp. He had experienced much and had developed a commanding presence. "I won't remind you of other things. I only hope you can empathize with others. Remember the suffering you endured and don't inflict it on others... or I will not forgive you!"

"Rest assured, sir, I will not dare to." Zhou Feng bowed and agreed.

The next morning.

The eastern sky was just beginning to lighten, while the western sky was still dark blue. The early morning chill was like a knife, and the wide road was almost empty.

Han Gang left Xiaolongwan Village, the tears and words of his parents and Han Yunni still weighing heavily on his heart. Wang Hou, Wang Shunchen, and a dozen others were already waiting at the south gate.

Han Gang bowed from a distance. "I apologize for keeping you waiting, gentlemen."

Wang Hou also bowed from the gate and led the group over. But as they approached, everyone's eyes turned to the twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy following Han Gang. They pointed and asked in surprise, "Who is this?"

Han Gang said, "This time, going to the capital, it's inconvenient not to have a capable companion, so I brought this boy. You should all recognize him. He is Li Lian's son, Li Liuliu, who came to report the news."

No one could have guessed that Han Gang's companion would be Li Lian's son. Wang Hou had some memory of him, the boy who had come to report the news when they were waiting in Xiaolongwan Village. Han Gang's success in capturing the remnants of the Chen family was partly due to Li Lian's defection. To reward this, Han Gang took Li Liuliu as his companion, and even Li Liuliu's sister, Li Bani, who was married to the Huang family, returned safely to her parents' home.

Wang Hou examined Li Liuliu for a moment, then frowned and shook his head. "Yukun, the road is dangerous, with many bandits. You should bring a more experienced and capable companion."

"Third Brother, find a more reliable helper. If it's really necessary, I'll go with you," Wang Shunchen also advised. "The road is not safe these days."

"Chudao, you all don't need to worry," Han Gang said confidently, patting the bow and sword on his horse. "With these, I'm not afraid of any bandits."

Han Gang spoke with great confidence, but in reality, he didn't think he would encounter any bandits. The remnants of the Chen family had been eliminated, so what was there to worry about?

Scholars traveled the world with swords, and he had done so alone three years ago. Now, even with a burden, it wasn't a big deal. Moreover, he was traveling on the main road to the capital, which was like a national highway, with many people and carriages. No bandits would be so foolish as to attack here.

He would stay at inns and travel on major roads. If he still encountered bandits, Han Gang could buy a lottery ticket, though there were no lotteries in this era.

Unable to persuade Han Gang, Wang Hou and the others could only give up. They followed Han Gang to the east gate. The south gate was for receiving people, while the east gate was for sending them off. Wang Hou said as they walked, "The governor and Wu Jiepan will both be there today. The food and drinks have been prepared in advance at the Ten Mile Inn, waiting for you, Yukun."

"I will have to trouble Ji Yi and Jiepan again. I wonder if they have any instructions."

"I don't know about Wu Jiepan, but the governor wants to send a private letter to Prime Minister Wang Anshi through you."

Han Gang was surprised. Carrying a letter was essentially a chance to meet Wang Anshi, and it wasn't easy for a ninth-rank official to meet a high-ranking official. Was this specially arranged by Wang Shao? He looked at Wang Hou, who indeed had a smile on his face. "I must thank Ji Yi for his efforts!"

"Speaking of which, Wu Jiepan might also have some letters for you to take to the capital."

"Of course." Han Gang nodded. In the Northern Song Dynasty, there were no post